ADHD in higher education institutions in Ireland- services, supports and student needs

It is estimated that up to 40,000 students in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Ireland have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The aim of this study is to determine the existing ADHD services and supports in HEIs in Ireland and to identify the current assessment pathways and nee...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Christine Boyd, Margo Wrigley, Ken Kilbride, Aisling Mulligan, Jessica Bramham
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Cogent Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2491865
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849729204073005056
author Christine Boyd
Margo Wrigley
Ken Kilbride
Aisling Mulligan
Jessica Bramham
author_facet Christine Boyd
Margo Wrigley
Ken Kilbride
Aisling Mulligan
Jessica Bramham
author_sort Christine Boyd
collection DOAJ
description It is estimated that up to 40,000 students in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Ireland have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The aim of this study is to determine the existing ADHD services and supports in HEIs in Ireland and to identify the current assessment pathways and needs of ADHD students. This cross-sectional observational study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, all HEIs in Ireland with a disability and student health service completed a survey describing their existing services and supports in place for students with ADHD. In the second phase, 641 students with ADHD provided quantitative and qualitative data to describe their assessment pathways and needs. The study found a diverse student population across age, gender, and ethnicity. While some HEIs offer comprehensive ADHD support, others lack ADHD-specific services. Unmet needs include limited assessment pathways, a lack of tailored supports, and limited support from academic staff. The results suggest that a specific ADHD service tailored to support students with ADHD in HEIs is required along with the provision of ADHD training for academic staff.
format Article
id doaj-art-e7074852a3dc46b19e6ee1062ddce2ab
institution DOAJ
issn 2331-186X
language English
publishDate 2025-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Cogent Education
spelling doaj-art-e7074852a3dc46b19e6ee1062ddce2ab2025-08-20T03:09:17ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Education2331-186X2025-12-0112110.1080/2331186X.2025.2491865ADHD in higher education institutions in Ireland- services, supports and student needsChristine Boyd0Margo Wrigley1Ken Kilbride2Aisling Mulligan3Jessica Bramham4School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Dublin, IrelandHealth Service Executive, Dublin, IrelandADHD Ireland, Dublin, IrelandDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University College Dublin, Dublin, IrelandSchool of Psychology, University College Dublin, Dublin, IrelandIt is estimated that up to 40,000 students in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Ireland have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The aim of this study is to determine the existing ADHD services and supports in HEIs in Ireland and to identify the current assessment pathways and needs of ADHD students. This cross-sectional observational study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, all HEIs in Ireland with a disability and student health service completed a survey describing their existing services and supports in place for students with ADHD. In the second phase, 641 students with ADHD provided quantitative and qualitative data to describe their assessment pathways and needs. The study found a diverse student population across age, gender, and ethnicity. While some HEIs offer comprehensive ADHD support, others lack ADHD-specific services. Unmet needs include limited assessment pathways, a lack of tailored supports, and limited support from academic staff. The results suggest that a specific ADHD service tailored to support students with ADHD in HEIs is required along with the provision of ADHD training for academic staff.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2491865Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorderADHDhigher educationuniversity studentsacademic functioningPsychiatry & Clinical Psychology - Adult
spellingShingle Christine Boyd
Margo Wrigley
Ken Kilbride
Aisling Mulligan
Jessica Bramham
ADHD in higher education institutions in Ireland- services, supports and student needs
Cogent Education
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
ADHD
higher education
university students
academic functioning
Psychiatry & Clinical Psychology - Adult
title ADHD in higher education institutions in Ireland- services, supports and student needs
title_full ADHD in higher education institutions in Ireland- services, supports and student needs
title_fullStr ADHD in higher education institutions in Ireland- services, supports and student needs
title_full_unstemmed ADHD in higher education institutions in Ireland- services, supports and student needs
title_short ADHD in higher education institutions in Ireland- services, supports and student needs
title_sort adhd in higher education institutions in ireland services supports and student needs
topic Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
ADHD
higher education
university students
academic functioning
Psychiatry & Clinical Psychology - Adult
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2491865
work_keys_str_mv AT christineboyd adhdinhighereducationinstitutionsinirelandservicessupportsandstudentneeds
AT margowrigley adhdinhighereducationinstitutionsinirelandservicessupportsandstudentneeds
AT kenkilbride adhdinhighereducationinstitutionsinirelandservicessupportsandstudentneeds
AT aislingmulligan adhdinhighereducationinstitutionsinirelandservicessupportsandstudentneeds
AT jessicabramham adhdinhighereducationinstitutionsinirelandservicessupportsandstudentneeds